How do you choose the right cloud certification?

Choosing the right cloud certification can be a crucial decision in shaping your IT career. As the cloud becomes an essential part of modern business, it’s crucial to know which certification fits your goals and expertise.

1. Clarify your career goals

When choosing which cloud certification to pursue, it’s essential to start thinking about where you are in your career and where you want to go. Do you want to break into the cloud industry, or do you already have some experience and want to deepen your cloud skills? If you’re embarking on a career in cloud computing, the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner or Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) certifications are a good place to start. These certifications help you understand the core concepts without delving too deeply into the technical details.

For more experienced professionals, certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional or Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert provide additional insights and confirm deeper knowledge. It is necessary to tailor your certification to the position you are looking for, whether it is architecture, security, DevOps or data management.

2. Select the correct platform

The next important step is selecting a cloud provider. Three major platforms dominate the market: AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). AWS remains the market leader with a huge range of services, which is why choosing an AWS certification is often seen as the gold standard. However, Microsoft Azure is especially valuable for organizations that are already embedded in Microsoft ecosystems, such as those using Office 365 or Active Directory. If your organization has made extensive use of Azure, earning Azure certifications will better align your career.

Google Cloud, while not as ubiquitous, excels in areas like machine learning and big data. If you want to specialize in data science, artificial intelligence, or related fields, Google Cloud certifications may be more valuable.

3. Understand the certification levels

Each cloud provider offers certifications at different levels (basic, associate and professional), in addition to specialized paths such as security or DevOps. It is crucial to assess your current level of experience and choose accordingly. For example, if you’ve been working in cloud environments for a few years, an associate-level certification is a logical step. However, jumping straight to professional or specialty certifications without sufficient experience can lead to burnout.

4. Value and growth of the research industry

Not all certifications have the same weight in the labor market. It is essential to check which certifications are most recognized in your industry. Certifications from AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud are generally respected worldwide, but specialized certifications, such as those focused on cloud security or data engineering, can be highly sought after in specific industries.

5. Cost and time investment

Finally, don’t forget to consider both the cost and time required to prepare for the certification exam. Entry-level certifications typically require less preparation time and are more affordable, while advanced and specialty certifications can require weeks or even months of study. Balance your time investment with the potential career benefits.

Choosing the right cloud certification requires careful consideration of your career ambitions, the cloud provider you prefer, and the specific skills you want to validate. With the right decision, cloud certification can be your ticket to advancement in one of today’s most in-demand fields.